Machine-tool.



F. MULLER.

MACHINE TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1904.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- &

[KT Z 292 asses.

F. MULLER.

MACHINE TOOL.

APPLICATION man MAY 21. 1904.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

g m l? mm FRIEDER-IGH MT ITLLER, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOB TONILES-BEMENT- POND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE-TOOL.

Application filed May 27, 1904, Serial No. 210,024.

more particularly for embodiment in that class of milling machinesintended for cutting longitudinal or spiral grooves in taps and drills.

The invention has for its object to increase "the speed andefi'ectiveness of action of the cutters upon the work, to save time inthe adjustment of the work in the machine, to insure accuracy in thefinished product, and render the same independent of special care orskill on the part of the operator.

the blank lengthwise of the blank. These and other features of theinvention will .be made clear by reference to the embodiment thereofillustrated by way of example in the drawings annexed, in which- Figure1 is a side elevation of a milling machine of the class described, withthe lower portion of the column supporting the bed removed and the upperportion of the machine partially in section;v Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the same in a plane intermediate the cutters and theadjustable work-engaging center, and Fig. QFifs a transverse section ofan adiustable bracket for one of the cutter spindles. Fig. 3 is a planof the machine with the cutteractuating shaft and its bracket removed toexpose the parts beneath. Fig.4 is a rear end view as Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 18, E915.

Renewed November 29, 1905. Serial No. 289,668.

the machine. Fig. his a detail plan view showing the clutch and feedthrow-out mechanisms, and Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, front andtransverse sectional views of the feed throw-out mechanism.

The machine is shown provided .with a. bed 1' supported upon the usualcolumn 2 and provided with a frame 3 carrying the feed-shaft 4 andfeed-cam 5 mounted there- 'on, and provided with suitable guide-ways 6to which are slidably fitted the carriages 7 and 8 for thework-supporting brackets 9 and 10, respectively, these carriages beingrigidly connected together by means of the bar 11 through which they aregiven corresponding sliding movements upon the slidewavs 6 by means of aroller-stud 12 depending from the carriage 7 and entering the cam-groove13 of the cam-cylinder 5. Upon the frame 3 is'rigidlyi mounted thegearing supporting post 14 with hollow hub 15 and the tool-carryingmember comprising the vertical carrying plate 16 whose lower edge restsupon the table of the frame 3 and whose upper portion is supported bythe curved braces 17 rising also from the bed 3. The tubular hub 15 isprovided with suitable bushings to which is fitted the fixed spindle 18secured at one end in its socket in the bracket 10 by means of the setscrew 19 and having at its opposite endthe conical workengaging center20 coiiperating with the movable center 21 carried by the slidingspindle 22 in the split barrel 23 of the bracket 9 and provided with theusual operating hand-wheel 24 and clamp provided with the lever 25. Tothe exterior of the forward endof the hub 15 is fitted a bushing 26upon'which is mounted the loose sleeve 2 .formed at one end with thecutter actuating gear-wheel 28. The vertical tool-carrying plate 16 isshown provided with four pairs of parallel undercut gibs 29 disposed indirec'tionstangential of the gear-wheel 28 to which are fitted the foursliding cutter spindle-heads 30 each of which is provided with .athreaded hole entered .by an adjusting screw 31 having its endportion'ad acent to thesquare head 32' swiveled to a'forked lug33'formed upon the plate 1'6. Eachoii the brackets 30 isprovided with acutter spindle .34 mounted in suitable bearings 35 intermediate whichitcarries {L-fiXed spiral gear-'36 and is provided upon its opposite liltiupon oneend of which is disposed a spiral gear 39 meshingwith the gear36 andupon the opposite end a spur gear 40 meshing with the gear 28'upon the sleeve 27. By

reason of the tangential arrangement of the gi-bs 29 in respect ofthegear 28, a limited adjustment ofJthe cutter-spindle-heads 30 by m ans ofthe adjusting screws 31 is permitted without materially affecting theintermeshing of the gears 28 and 40, so that-the cutters are capableofadjustment toward and from the axial line of the centers 20 and 21without a corresponding adjustment of their entire actuating means.

The common intermediate actuating ear 28 derives its motion from thecutterriving shaft 41 carrying the pulley. 42 by means of a pinion 43upon said shaft meshing with a gear 44 mounted rigidly upon the hub ofthe gear 28, whereby motion communicated from the source of power to thepulley 42 is communicated at a reduced speed to the-gear-wheel 28 fromwhich the several cutters derivetheir motion in operating upon thethreaded tap or carried by the centers 20 and 21.v

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, spindle-'18 is provided in its forward oroperative'end portion with a series of longitudinal clearance grooves orcuts 20 corresponding in number and position with the milling cutters 37in order to, prevent the interference of such spindle with the cutterswhen in initial relation therewith immediately before and after agroove-cutting operation upon the stock, as the tap a. These clearancecuts are essential, for the reason that the grooves to be cut in a drillor tapnecessarily extend from the extremity of the operative portion ofthe same, while the spindle or center for sustaining the latter must beof such size as to give the necessary stiflness to insure the propersupport of the work. I

- The power for driving the feeding mechanism is communicated throughthe pulley 45 mounted upon the shaft 46 carrying the loose clutchcollars 47 and 48, the former of which is connected withvthe worm-shaft49 by means of the intermeshing gears50 and 51, and the latter ofwhichclutch collars is connected with the said worm-shaft by means ofthe gears 52 and 53 upon the respective shafts and the intermediate gear54 intermeshing with said gears, Intermediatethe clutch-collars 47 and48 is disposed the sliding clutch collar 55 splined to the shaft-46 "andprovided with an annular groove 56 entered by the spherical end of a pin57 carried by a shift-lever 58. .The slidthe fixed usual teeth upbn eachend which are adapted to interlock alternately with corresponding teethupon adjacent ends of the loose collars 47 and 48. The gears 50 and 51and the gears 52, 53 and 54 are soarranged andproportioned that when thesliding collar 55 is in engagement with the collar 47. the worm-shaft 49will be rotated forwardly at a' comparatively slow speed to produce afeeding movement of the work-holding member, while the shifting of theclutch collar 55 out of engagement with the collar 47 and intoengagement with the collar 48 causes the rotation-of the worm-shaft 49in the reverse direction and at a greatly increased speed to effect thereturn movement of the work-holding member after a cutting operation.-

The worm-shaft 49 carries a worm 59 which meshes with a worm-wheelf'6Ofixed upon the cam-shaft 4 and provided with a radially movable sectionconsisting of a of a link 69 with the shift-lever 58 pivoted at 7 0 tothe said bracket 68,"a nd to the outer end of said starting lever ispivoted at 71 a reciprocating cam-rod 72 the beveled head 73 of which isadapted to engage the pin to raise the toothed portion of the block 61into engagement with the worm 59 when the machine is started.

The rear face of the worm-wheel 60' is provided with an undercut slot 74to which is fitted the similarly shaped head 75 of ,a screw-stud .76provided with clamp-nut 77. The screw-stud 76' is circumferentially ad-'ustable in the slot 74, its path of movement in the rotation of theworm 60 being such as to enable it to engage thetail of a latchlever'78mounted upon a fixed stud 79 on the frame 3 and having its operative endformed with a hook '80 adapted to engage a tooth 81 upon the outerextremity of the angular portion of the'starting lever 66, a spring 82being provided to maintain the latch-'lever7 8 normally in engagementwith the starting lever 66. v

In each'ofthe v figures of the drawings,

excepting Fig. 4, the several parts of the machine are represented inthe positions ing clutch collar 55 is provided with theing shown in fulllines iniretracted position,

meavea with the clutch member in engagement with the member l8 forefiecting the backward rotation of the worm 59, the cam-rod 72 beingretracted to permit the wormwheel section 63; to drop by gravity or tobe forced by engagement of the pin 65 with the stationary cam-piece 83secured to the frame 3 inwardly toward the cam-shaft iso as to lie outof engagement with the actuating worm as the worm-wheel returns toinitial or starting position, in which the work-holding member assumesits initial position with the grooved operative end of the tap ajustbeyond the cutters 37 in readiness for removal.

To eii'ect a succeeding operation of the machine, the movable center 21is backed off by suitable manipulation of the clamp-lever 25 andhand-wheel 2% for the removal of the tap a, which is replaced by anungrooved tap, when the ,center 21 is advanced upon the same and securedin operative engage inent therewith in the usual manner. The startinglever 66 is then thrown forwardly into the dotted line positionrepresented in Fig. 5, which throws forward the shift lever 58 to couplethe clutch collars 4:7 and 55 for communicating to'the Worm-shaft a9 aforward feeding movement, and simultaneously advances the cam rod 72whose head 73 engages the pin and raises the worm section 61 intoengagement with the rotating worm 59, whereby the forward movement ofthe 'woi'nrwheel 60, cam-shaft 4 and cam 5 are initiated, and the feedof the sliding brackets 9 and 10 commenced to bring the tap intooperative relation with the continuously rotating cutters 37. Thisfeeding movement continues until the worm 60 has rotated to the pointindicated inFig. a, when its tripping stud 76 engages the latch-lever 78and tilts the latter in opposition to its spring 82, and therebyreleases the starting lever 66, which is returned to initial positionunder the action of the spring 84 interposed between the same and a pin85' upon the frame 3. This movement of the starting lever causes theshifting of the clutch-member 55 from engagement with the collar it? toengagement with the collar 48 for reversal of the direction of rotationof the worm-shaft t9 and simultaneously withdraws vthe camrod 72 toremove its head 7 3 from the circular path of movement ofithe pin 65 soas to enable the toothed portion of the wormwheel section 61 to recedefromthe periphery of the worm-wheel under the action of the stationarycam 83 upon the pin 65,-

whereby, as the worm-wheel turns to initial starting position the wormruns out of engagement with. the teeth of the same and the latter comesto rest in readiness for a succeeding operation.

Although the feed throw-out device, comprising the radially movableworm-wheel section 61, and the cam-rod .72 operated manually to shift itinto operative position and automatically to permit its return toinoperative position in respect of the body of the worm-wheel, willoperate equally well whether the worm 59 rotates continuously in onedirection -or alternately in opposite directions, the employment ofmeans for reversing the direction of rotation of the worm, and hence ofthe cam-shaft, is evidently advantageous as it is thereby madepracticable to provide for a feeding movement of the work-supportingmember to correspond with the length of tap or other stock to begrooved, the circumferential adjustment of the tripping stud 76providing for the operation of so much only of the entire length of thecam-groove 13 as is necessary to communicate the requisite feedingmovement to the work.

It will be observed that only a single manual actuation of the startinglever 66 is necessary in each operation of the machine, the return ofsuch lever to initial position being eflected'automatically, and thefinal interruption of the feed-returning movement' being accomplishedindependently of such automatic shifting of. the lever 66.

While I have shown herein the movable work-engaging center 21 as forminga part of a common form of lathe tail-stock, adjustable upon its bed 7by means of the usual clamp-bolt 86, it is evident that this may bereplaced by a work-holder constructed in accordance with my applicationSerial 10c No. 207,506, filed May 11,190t, or by any other suitablelorwell-known form of workholding member provided with means for rotatingthe work during the longitudinal feed of the same, so that the operationof the cutters will produce spiral grooves, in case the machine is to beused in making twist-drills.

I have not claimed herein the feeding mechanism herein shown anddescribed, as 11 the same forms the subject of my application, SerialNo. 225,617, filed September 23, 1904:. I

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim hereinis, I

1. A milling machine including in combination, a plurality of rotarycutters symmetrically arranged on independent axes. around a commoncenter,-means for rotating said cutters, means for supporting at 12$their opposite ends the blanks to be milled, said supporting meansincluding a pair of oppositely arranged blank engaging members and aguide for one of said-members in fixed relation to the plane of andconcentric with said cutters and means for producing a relative feedingmovement between the cutters and the blanks lengthwise of the latter.

2. A milling machine including in combination, a plurality of rotarycutters sym metrically arranged on independent axes around a commoncenter, means for supporting at their opposite ends the blanks to bemilled, said supporting means including a pail-of oppositely arrangedblank engagmg members and a guide for one of said members in fixedrelation to the plane of and concentric I with said cutters, meansmounted on said guide for rotating said cutters, and means for givingtheblankengaging members a feeding movement with relation to the cuttersand guide.-

3. A groove milling machine including in combination a plurality ofrotary cutters mounted on independent axes to operate in a single planeand-symmetrically arranged around a central line extending atsubstantially right angles to said plane, means for supporting at theiropposite ends the blanks to be groovednsaid supporting means including apair of oppositelya-rranged rig idly connected blank engaging spindles,a stationary guide member for one of said spindles, located adjacent tothe plane of and in concentric relation with saidcutters, means forproducing a relative movement between said spindles to engage the blanksand means for simultaneously moving the spindles endwise with relationto the cutters and guide. f N

4. A milling machine including in combination, a work-holding membercomprising a pair of rigidly connected brackets, one of which carries amovably mounted work engaging spindle, an intermediate tool.

' carrying member. and provided with a guide disposed in axial alinementwith the opening in said tool-carrying member, and a work-engagingspindle fitted to and passing through said guide and the opening in thetool carrying member and rigidly mounted in the otherof saidwork-holding brackets. 5; In a milling machine, the combination with theframe, a work-holding member comprising a pair, of rigidly connectedbrackets each carrying ea work-engaging spindle, and an intermediatetool-carrying member comprising a bracket formed with an opening, theone of said members being movable relatively to the other upon saidframe, a post provided with a hollow hub through which and the openingin the toolcarrying member one of the work-engaging spindles isprojected from itsv holding bracket, an actuating gear mounted upon saidhollow-hub, a plurality of cutter spindle-heads mounted upon said,tool-carrying member and provided each with a rotary cutter andconnected mechanism com,- prising a gear meshing with said actuatinggear, means for rotating said actuating gear,

and means for communicating feeding movements to the said movablemember. I

6. In a milling machine, the combination with the frame carryingrelativelymovable work-holding and tool-carrying members, of a hubmounted in fixed relation to said tool-carrying member, an actuatinggear mounted thereon, a plurality of cntterspindle-heads mounted uponsaid tool-carrying member and provided each with a cutter and connectedmechanism comprising a gear meshing with said actuating gear, saidspindle-heads being adjustable each in a di- 'rection tangential to saidactuating gear means for driving said actuating gear, an

means for communicating feeding movecutter spindle-heads mounted uponsaid tool-carrying member adjustably' in directions tangential to saidcommon actuating gear, and meanscfor driving said actuating ear. g 8. Ina milling machine, the combination with the frame, of a tool-carryingmember comprising a bracket and a guiding hub. in fixed relation.thereto, a plurality of toolcarrying spindles mounted upon said membertangentially in respect of said guiding hub, a rotary tool upon eachsaid spindle in radial relation to said hub, a workholding' membercomprising a pair of rigidly connected brackets each carrying awork-engaging spindle the outer portion of one of which is passedthrough and supported vby said guiding hub and is formed at its outerend with a plurality of clearance cuts each for its respective rotarytool, means for actuat ing said tool-carryin spindles, and means forcommunicating :teeding movements to one of said members relative to theother.

9. A machine vfor grooving tap blanks and the like, including, incombination, blanksupporting-means including blank-centering members, aplurality of cutters symmetrically" arranged relative to the axisdefined by said centering members, -;thecutting planes of said cuttersbeing substantially identical, said centering members being located atvopposite sides of said outtfiarespectively, means for rotating saidcutters in unison; and'automatic means tor efiecting a i dependentcutter-carrying spindles, sald pairs being symmetrically arranged withreference to a common center so that thecutters operate in a singleplane, means for driving said spindles in unison, blank-supporting meansincluding blank-centering members located at opposite sides of thecutters, and automatic means for effecting a predetermined extent ofrelative movement between the cutters and the blank lengthwise of theblank.

11. A machine for grooving tap blanks and the like, including, incombinati on,.a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged independentcutter-carrying spindles, said pairs being symmetrically arranged withreference to a common center so that the cutters operate in a singleplane, means for driving said spindles in unison, blank-supporting meansincluding blank-centering members located at opposite sides of thecutters,automatic means for efiecting relative movement between thecutters and the blank in a predetermined direction lengthwise ot' theblank while cutting, and means adapted to a utomatically arrest movementin said direction and cause relative movement between the cutters andthe blank lengthwise of said blank in the opposite direction.

12. A machine for grooving tap blanks.

and the like, including, in combination, a plurality of pairs ofoppositelyarranged independent cutter-carrying spindles, said pairsbeing symmetrically arranged with reference to a common center so thatthe cutters operate in a single plane, means for driving said spindlesin unison, blank-supporting means including blank-centering memberslocated at opposite sides of the cutters, automatic means for effectingrelative movement between the cutters and the blank in a predetermineddirection lengthwise of the blank while cutting, and means adapted toautomatically arrest movement in said direction and cause relativemovement between the cutters and the'blank lengthwise of said blank inthe opposite direction, said last-mentioned means comprising cooperativeclutch members, a work-feeding member and trip devices coiiperativelyassociated with said members.

13. In a tap grooving machine, the combination with a plurality ofcutters symmetrically arranged around a center, means for rotating saidcutters, means for supporting a tap blank at its opposite ends and onopposite sides of the cutters, said support lng means including awork-engaging spindle having a clearan ce groove for each of saidcutters, and means for producing a relative movement between the cuttersand.

the blank lengthwise of the blank.

14. In a tap grooving machine, the combination of a plurality of rotarycutters symmetrically arranged around a center,

means including a member arranged concentrically with the cutters forrotating the cutters, means for adjusting the cutters in-, wardly andoutwardly with relation to said center, means for supporting a tap blankat its opposite ends and on opposite sides of Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner" ofPatents, Washington, D. C.

